49. The representative of Japan gave an overview of the discussions of the IWG on IWVTA. He referred to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2015/40 and recalled the discussion of WP.29 at its previous session on the voting majority threshold. He introduced WP.29-165-04 superseding ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2015/41 aimed at amending Article 3 on special provisions. Noting that some critical comments had been received, he added that the IWG would resume discussions on this issue and report back to the June 2015 session of WP.29.

50. The representative of EU informed WP.29 that the EU Member States continue consultation on voting majority threshold and announced to provide more detailed information on a common position in the next sessions of WP.29. He raised concerns about the late submission of the amendments to Article 3 on special provisions and stressed the importance of freezing the text for the adoption process of the third Revision of the 1958 Agreement.

51. The World Forum agreed to defer discussion on this subject to its forthcoming session in June 2015. The secretariat was, thus, requested to circulate WP.29-165-04 with an official symbol.

51. WP.29 recalled the frozen text of draft Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/53) and the additional provisions on the equal authenticity of English, French and Russian languages (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/82).

52. The representative of the Netherlands proposed a clarification to Article 12 to avoid different interpretations of the provisions on the obligations of Contracting Party to accept type approvals in the case they intend to cease the application of a Regulation. WP.29 endorsed the proposal. The representative of the Russian Federation reiterated the position of his Government expressed in WP.29-164-09 to object to the provisions on the delegation of voting rights. WP.29 agreed to remove Article 9 from the appendix of draft Revision 3. -The secretariat proposed to amend the definition of “a version of a UN Regulation” in WP.29-164-10 tabled under agenda item 4.2.2 and to replace the word “any” by “all” in the last sentence. Following the discussion, WP.29 preferred to delete the word “any”. The amendments agreed upon by WP.29 are reproduced in Annex III to WP.29-164 session report.

53. The representative of OICA introduced WP.29-164-23 proposing to clarify in Article 3 of draft Revision 3, the special provisions within the UN Regulations with respect to the principles of the mutual recognition. The representative of Australia supported the proposal. WP.29 noted some comments and agreed to resume consideration of this matter at its next session, awaiting the feedback of IWVTA. WP.29 noted a concern expressed by the European Commission services on the late availability of the document and agreed to resume consideration pending the discussion of the document.

56. The World Forum recognized that the Contracting Parties would need more time to review the above proposals and agreed to resume consideration of this subject at its next session in March 2015. The representatives of Germany and the United Kingdom noted the need for a finalized text prior to submitting to their national authorities for approval and so the World Forum agreed that adoption of the revised agreement would be delayed accordingly. The secretariat was also requested to circulate WP.29-164-23 as a separate official document.

47. WP.29 noted the revised text of draft Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/53) reflecting the discussion of the March 2014 session. The World Forum requested the secretariat to reintroduce the provisions of the equal authenticity of English, French and Russian languages which existed in the first unamended text of the Agreement. WP.29 decided to freeze the draft revision and requested the Contracting Parties to clarify their political and legal views on this draft revision. WP.29 agreed to resume consideration of the revision of the Agreement at its November 2014 session, awaiting the appropriate political and legal guidance.